Medaglia d'Oro colt tops Fasig-Tipton New York sale

Seth Benzel, agent for Whitehall Stable, secured a bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro

for $275,000 at the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred

Preferred Yearling Sale Sunday night in Saratoga Springs, New York. Offered by

Thorndale Farm, agent for Akindale Farm, the February 28 foal toured the ring as

Hip No. 502.

The yearling is the third registered foal out of Argentinean Group 2 winner

Miss Mary (Arg) (Southern Halo), a full sister to Argentinean champions Miss

Linda (Arg) and Mr. Nancho (Arg). While all three siblings raced in North

America, Miss Linda achieved the greatest success with victories in the 2001

Spinster S. (G1) and 2002 Sabin H. (G3), as well as placings in the 2002 Apple

Blossom H. (G1) and the 2003 Spinster and Personal Ensign H. (G1). This

family has also produced the Argentinean Group 1 winners Miss Match (Arg) (Indygo

Shiner) and Mister Marco (Go Forth).

The highest priced filly was Hip 492, a dark bay Sky Mesa that went

to Todd Quast, agent for Goldmark, for $200,000. The March 17 foal was offered

as part of the Peacock Ridge, agent, consignment.

Produced by the stakes-winning Mandy Mack (Native Prospector), the filly is a

half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner The Judge Sez Who (Judge T C), who scored

victories in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Fred W. Hooper H. (G3) in 2002. Mandy

Mack is herself a full sister to four-time stakes winner and Grade 2-placed

Prospect For Four. This is also the family of French Group 1 winner Balitou (Fr)

(*Margouillat).

On Sunday, 55 yearlings sold for $2,561,000, an increase of 3.3 percent from

the comparable session last year when 53 yearlings sold for $2,479,000. The

session average was virtually flat, declining from $46,774 to $46,564, while the

median dipped 14.3 percent, from $35,000 to $30,000.

After a difficult opener on Saturday evening, the two-day sale saw declines

across the board. The gross of $4,353,500 for 107 head was off 20 percent from

last year when 100 horses brought $5,439,000. The sale average was down 25.2

percent, from $54,390 to $40,687, while the median plummeted 40 percent, from

$45,000 to $27,000.

Saturday's top seller was Hip 322, a Roman Ruler filly consigned by

Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent, who brought a winning bid

of $115,000 from Anthony Turfaro.

For more information, visit fasigtipton.com.